You should be able to understand everything your HVAC technician says to you. Unfortunately, professionals don’t always remember that the customer doesn’t have the same training as them. So, here are 10 HVAC terms that will keep you and your technician communicating smoothly during your next service. HVAC – The unit that heats and cools your home. It’s an acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Refrigerant – The chemical used in cooling units more often referred to as Freon. Compressor – Pumps the refrigerant through the system to maintain coolness. Condenser – The part of the unit that’s usually outside and siphons heat off the unit. SEER – The rating given to each HVAC unit that ranges from 10 to 20. It’s an acronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Ideally, you want to hear that your unit has a high SEER rating. Ductwork – Refers to the system of pathways that make it possible for heated or cooled air to be distributed through your home. Static Pressure – Indicates the amount of pressure that’s applied on the ductwork system. It’s used to determine if the system is operating poorly. BTU – An acronym for British Thermal Unit. Refers to the amount of energy it takes to heat water (kind of like calories in the body). You want a heating unit with a high BTU because that means it’s able to achieve a high heating capacity. MERV Rating – An acronym for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It’s a rating that’s given to filters to describe the size of the holes in the filter. A high rating correlates with small...

We get a lot of complaints from customers about things like power outages. We understand: they’re inconvenient and disruptive, especially when they come as a total shock. However, power outages aren’t always the result of an electrical issue. Many times, they’re actually planned by the power companies. Now you may be thinking, why on earth would you need to plan a power outage? The fact is, planned power outages are quite helpful to the maintenance of power grids, especially in large metropolitan areas. First, power outages make it possible for technicians to perform any necessary maintenance safely. The power needs to be turned off in an area in order for upgrades or repairs to be made without injuring the technician. In these cases, the power outages happen on a relatively small scale. When there’s a power outage that affects entire communities, there’s massive work being done to better serve you. Of course, these large scale outages aren’t done on a whim. These widespread events are coordinated as far as months in advance so that community events and emergency services can plan accordingly. You can learn about upcoming power outages by contacting your chambers of commerce or NV...

An unfortunate fact of the matter is that, in spite of all our maintenance and care, our heating systems sometimes stop performing at their best. While it makes the most sense to hire a professional to come fix the issue quickly and easily, it’s not always necessary. You can save yourself a few bucks by troubleshooting your heating repair issues yourself. Some of the more common issues can be easy fixes if you don’t mind getting in there and scoping them out. Is your unit running but producing no heat? This heating repair issue is usually caused by a lack of fuel. For a gas furnace (the most common type of furnace in Las Vegas): check the pilot light. If it’s out, the gas isn’t getting ignited and so you get no heat. If it is out, just follow the instructions on your furnace to get it lit again. If the pilot won’t stay lit, call a heating repair professional. For an oil burning furnace: check your fuel levels and refill as necessary. If you already refilled and it still won’t work, it probably just needs to be reset. Follow the instructions on your furnace to reset it. If it still doesn’t work, call in the pros. Is your unit running but producing moderate heat? This heating repair issue is most often caused by problems with airflow. You likely need to replace your air filter, dust the vent and the fan motors. Just remember to turn off the unit and cut the power at the breaker before you start tinkering with the unit. If you are dealing with a...

Heating and cooling costs can quickly get away from us if we’re not careful. With these tips, you can keep your heating bill in check without having to sacrifice comfort. Turn it down a notch. During the day, a temperature setting of 78 degrees is usually perfect to feel comfortable without forcing your heater to work too hard. While you sleep or while you’re out of the house, drop the temperature down to 65 or 70 degrees. This way, you aren’t spending money that you aren’t benefiting from and your furnace doesn’t have to work so hard to get your home back warm and cozy when you’re ready. Check for air leaks. Even if you have your thermostat set at the perfect energy saving temperature, you can still be throwing dollars out the window. So, check your windows and doors for cracks and other small openings that are allowing your heated air to escape. Fill cracks with caulk and replace any weather stripping that has deteriorated. Service your system. If no one has been to service your HVAC in at least a year, you’re long overdue. Regular maintenance is the key to ensuring your heater is working at optimum efficiency. So, contact the pros at JMAC Heating & Air to make sure your heater serves you well all winter. Call 702.227.5622 today to schedule an...

Whether you live alone or manage a bustling household, the kitchen is likely the center of it all. That’s why a dysfunctional garbage disposal is so frustrating. Surprisingly, many people don’t know that most garbage disposal repairs are easy to DIY. So, use this guide to quickly troubleshoot the most common garbage disposal issues so that your home can get back to normal functioning. 3 Common Garbage Disposal Issues It won’t turn on. This means you’re probably dealing with an electrical problem. First check that the unit is plugged in. If it is, press the reset button (the button should pop out if the disposal is really reset). If the button doesn’t pop, check to make sure the breaker isn’t tripped. If it is, then you probably need to call a professional. The sink is leaking. If the leak is coming from where the disposal meets the piping, then something is probably just loose. Try tightening up the bolts and replacing the plumber’s putty. If the leak is coming from where the dishwasher connects to the sink, the same applies. You should be able to fix the problem by tightening the clamp. If you are really concerned, you can even go so far as to replace the hose. The sink drains slowly. In this situation, the drain line is probably clogged. Just take off the discharge pipe and remove the drain trap. Clean the trap with natural, non-corrosive cleaners to make sure you don’t cause any accidental damage. If your troubleshooting efforts yield no results, call a professional plumber in Las Vegas to take care of the issue right...